April VirusBarrier 1.5 virus definitions

03/28, 9:45pm

Sun may include some Apple code in JVM

Sun Microsystem is considering including some Apple-written code in a Sun Java Virtual machine to boost performance, according to InfoWorld: "[Apple] has modified Sun's Java HotSpot VM to boost loading speed and reduce memory consumption. The modified VM is part of Apple's Mac OS/10 [and] involve improvements to shared system libraries."

Roxio: Toast w/ Jam bundle shipping

03/28, 7:30pm

piDog Software announces piDock 2.0a1

piDog Software announced today the release of piDock v2.0a1. piDock is a utility for the navigation of files and folders in a natural and efficient manner. The new version includes translucent menus that take advantage of the display abilities of Mac OS X, user-viewable information about files and bug fixes for improved application behavior.

03/28, 5:50pm

MYOB FirstEdge: management for small business

MYOB has announced MYOB FirstEdge, a new entry-level business product for Mac OS X. The easy-to-use business management product is designed for small businesses and integrates banking, sales and expense tracking into one application; pricing is $100 and will be available in mid-April.

03/28, 5:40pm

New high-end video cards for Mac at NAB 2002

At NAB 2002 (April 8-11), Digital Voodoo will introduce HD Fury, a High Definition PCI card featuring one HD SDI input and one HD SDI output, Genlock and SD SDI down conversion. It supports dual stream HD as well as 8 channels of AES/EBU digital audio at 24 bit / 96 Khz. It is also expected to introduce its Compound SD, the comany's latest SDI I/O digital and analog videographics engine billed as the "first multiple format 10-bit I/O card for the Mac." The multiple format PCI card supports 10-bit uncompressed SDI input and output as well as component RGB, YUV, Y/C and composite (NTSC and PAL) video. It also has built-in support for multiple layers of video or video and graphics as well 8 channels of AES/EBU digital audio.

03/28, 5:00pm

OSNews response to Apple\'s feedback request

In response to Apple's request for input from PC users, Steve Klingsporn of OSNews.com has come up with some the following ideas: computer boot time from 10-15 seconds, less processor intensive activies (movies, music), better kernel scheduling, dynamic plug-in architecture, a better naming system, and no more legacy applications. Along many with other ideas already listed, Klingsporn is asking for more suggestions from users.

03/28, 5:00pm

Mailtron 2.0b1: public beta test for OS X

Studiotron is publicly tesing Mailtron v2.0b1 for Mac OS X. The email gateway allows hosting of mail domains without having a full time internet connection or paying fees. The latest version features "industrial strenght" mail forwarding using fetchmail, automatic protocol detection, and IMAP support.

03/28, 4:45pm

Faust\'s Friend 2.3: Mac headline ticker

Faust's Friend v2.3 is a free ticker application that displays headlines from several Macintosh websites. The maintenance upgrade fixes issues with the existing channels. Sites included in the ticker are MacNN, MacSlash, MacFixit, and Slashdot. [Classic, Carbon]

03/28, 4:15pm

IPNetSentry 1.3.6 changes payload instruction

IPNetSentry v1.3.6 is a firewall application that can stop hackers, intruders, and Cod Red-type worms. The update "made the payload inspection command support both "word offset" and "length" parameters when searching incoming datagrams for specific strings." Also

03/28, 3:55pm

WebDesign 1.5.1 improves attribute editor

Rage Software has released WebDesign v1.5.1, a maintenance update to the web development application for Mac OS 9 & X. WebDesign allows extended features through the use of plug-ins and extensions; the update includes a number of bug fixes and improves the attribute editor. Price is $30 for a new liscense and $20 for an upgrade.

03/28, 3:50pm

Artec: no Mac OS X support for scanners

Scott Thompson has forwarded us an email from Artec USA regarding their scanner support for Mac OS X. "I'm sorry, but there will be no update for our scanners to support Mac OS
9.1 and higher. We apologize for this."

03/28, 2:20pm

Spark III EmPowered: battery powered drive

FirewireDirect.com today announced a new line of FireWire portable hard drives, powered by a Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery and offering up to 40 GB of storage capacity. The new Spark III EmPowered (Spark EP) has a sharp black and metallic industrial design, with brushed metal side panels and a piercing bright ice blue power light and features the latest high-performance Oxford 911 chipset. The battery automatically recharges itself when plugged into a powered FireWire port or when connected to the AC adaptor. Prices for the 10GB, 20GB, 30GB, and 40GB are $200, $220, $350, and $390, respectively. An enclosure for any 9.5mm disk drive and battery is $150.

03/28, 2:05pm

D-Link intros Bluetooth USB network adapter

D-Link has launched the D-Link DWB-120M, a compact Bluetooth USB wireless network adapter designed specifically for Macs. It allows any Apple computer with a USB port running Mac OS X 10.1.3 to create connections to other Bluetooth-enabled devices. It is strictly compliant to the Bluetooth 1.1 specification and provides connection speeds of up to 1 Mbps with up to 33 feet (or 10 Meters) of range. It will be available in April exclusively through the Apple Store for $50.

03/28, 2:00pm

Apple to launch Mac-only software areas in UK

Apple is teaming up with UK computer-retail vendor PC World to install Mac only software areas in 109 PC World stores across the UK, according to Macworld UK. The areas, expected to launch in mid-May, follows the installation of a protoype in PC World Luton last year after Christmas and will carry up to 30 Apple and third-party Mac software titles, including games and reference titles, utility and system apps, Mac OS X 10.1 and Corel Draw 10.

03/28, 11:50am

VCD Copy X 1.0 copies VCD tracks

03/28, 11:40am

VINC 1.0 offers document viewing, conversion

Recosoft has released VINC 1.0, an integrated document viewing and converter application that provides rapid viewing and conversion of files created in different word processing and graphics software, including MSWord, AppleWorks, HTML, RTF, PNG, JPEG, and Photoshop formats. It also supports Japanese-language text contained in documents and retains the integrity of Japanese-language word processing files. It is priced at $50. [Classic, Carbon]

03/28, 11:25am

Apple uses second vendor for LCD screens

HannStar Display has received new 15-inch LCD panel orders for Apple's new iMac. Shipments are scheduled to begin in May with an "initial monthly volume of 10,000 units, which could then rise to 30,000 units in the future." HannStar joins LG.Philips as the sole vendors of LCD panels for Apple's iMac, according to DigiTimes. Another article notes that tight supply of TFT LCD panels for the iMac has hampered shipments as well as confirms production problems in assembling the iMac "arm."

03/28, 11:00am

ChronoSync 1.02 for synchronizing volumes

ChronoSync 1.02 is an update to the $20 application for synchronizing files and folders, adding the ability to detect missed schedules (due to computer sleep or shutdown) as well as the ability to delete a file if it exists only on one side of the synchronization tree. The update also offers other functions and bug fixes.

03/28, 10:55am

Prices fall on 3D animation software

Alias/Wavefront will announce drastic price cuts on its professional versions, Maya Complete ($2,000) and Maya Unlimited ($7,000) from their former prices of $7,500 and $16,000, respectively. Last week NewTek cut the price of its LightWave 3-D software from $2,500 to $1,600, according to the USA Today report.

03/28, 9:15am

Apple sued by Buzzle directors

Two of thirteen directors being sued by Apple for the demise of Australian Buzzle venture have fired back with lawsuits of their own against Apple, alleging channel stuffing and misleading statements by Apple representatives: "Donald Hartono and Wing Liu, have hit back by filing a separate Federal Court action in Victoria. The pair allege that Apple had engaged in misleading conduct that partly contributed to Buzzle's failure."

03/28, 9:05am

Blizzard releases OS X patches for Diablo II

Blizzard Entertainment has released OS X patches for Diablo II and the Diablo II: Lord of Destruction expansion for Mac OS X, after announcing the patches earlier this year. ExtremeSims is providing a mirror for the updates. [DII, DIILOD; DII mirror; DIILOD mirror]

03/28, 8:55am

XRay 1.0: file, folder util for OS X

Rainer Brockerhoff has released XRay 1.0, an update to his $10 shareware File/Folder information utility that offers a more detailed view of files, folders, applications and volumes. It can edit permissions, type/creator codes (from a pre-built database), and has other functions. A two-week trial is available.